MyTek LIBERTY DAC II User manual

Brand: MyTek

Model: LIBERTY DAC II

Category: Supplementary music equipment

Type: User manual

MyTek LIBERTY DAC II is an exceptional PCM/MQA/DSD USB2 DAC designed for high-quality music playback and monitoring of all digital audio formats, including all high-resolution formats. It boasts several digital inputs (USB2, AES/EBU, 2x S/PDIF, Toslink/ADAT), digital volume control, unbalanced and balanced audio outputs, and a high-performance headphone amplifier. Optimized for the highest performance, it operates as a driverless "plug & play" device under Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

2Mytek Liberty DAC II

Owner's Manual Ver. 1.0

The Liberty DAC II rmware can be easily updated via Mytek Firmware

Uploader app. As the rmware is updated, Mytek will be posting new

rmware releases in the support/download section on Mytek website.

Firmware may alter details of Mytek operation and consequently there

will be periodic updates to this manual. For news, driver updates,

technical support, tips and further product information please visit our

website:

www.mytek.audio

To obtain the tech support please write or call the US ofce for all US

and World support and EU ofce for the European support.

MYTEK.AUDIO MAIN NEW YORK OFFICE

148 India St.

Brooklyn, NY 11222

tel. +1 (347) 384-2687

email: [email protected]

MYTEK.AUDIO E.U. BRANCH OFFICE

Slominskiego 15/509

00-195 Warsaw, Poland

tel. +48 22 869 29 06

email: [email protected]

User’s Manual 3

Contents

1. Introduction ...........................................................................................4

2. Package’s Content ..................................................................................5

3. About Liberty DAC II ............................................................................... 5

4. Device Features ......................................................................................6

5. Quick Start..............................................................................................7

5.1 Front Panel .......................................................................................7

5.2 Rear Panel ........................................................................................8

6. Firmware update Windows .....................................................................9

7. MQA - Master Quality Authenticated ..................................................... 11

8. Remote .................................................................................................11

9. Warranty ..............................................................................................12

4Mytek Liberty DAC II

1. Introduction

Thank you for choosing the Liberty DAC II from Mytek and welcome to the Mytek user’s community.

Over 30 years of experience in building mastering grade converters and other audio equipment has

been utilized to create this digital to analog converter. Its sophisticated audio path is designed to

deliver bit perfect, high quality, transparent sound to your speakers and headphones.

The Liberty DAC II will play:

• PCM up to 32 bit / 384 kHz

• Native DSD up to DSD256, DXD,

• MQA master quality les out of online streaming services

• Any other digital source equipped with USB, TOSLINK, SPDIF or AES

The Liberty DAC II has been optimized for highest performance and it is plug & play under Windows,

Mac OS and Linux (doesn’t require any additonal drivers).

Enjoy your new Liberty DAC II!

The Mytek Audio Team

User’s Manual 5

2. Package’s Content

• The Mytek Liberty DAC II

• USB 2.0 Cable

• Aluminum remote (Apple)

• Power cord

• Owner’s manual

3. About Liberty DAC II

Liberty DAC II is Mytek’s most affordable, yet exceptional, PCM/MQA/DSD USB2 DAC designed for

high-quality music playback and monitoring of all digital audio formats including all high-resolution

formats. The DAC features several digital inputs, digital volume control and unbalanced as well as

balanced audio outputs, and a high-performance headphone amplier. Designed as a little brother of

Brooklyn DAC, Liberty DAC II provides robust performance in a small portable 1/3 rack package.

6Mytek Liberty DAC II

4. Device Features

• Up to 384k, 32bit PCM, native DSD up to DSD256, DXD, ES9038 chipset, 127dB DR

• Analog outputs: 1 pair of unbalanced RCA, 1 pair of balanced XLR

• Headphone amplier: Reference High Current, High transient Headphone Amp, 300mA, 3 Watts,

designed for hard to drive headphones, 0.1 Ohm impedance

• Digital inputs: USB2 Class2 (driverless, all audio formats), AES/EBU (PCM up to 192k, up to

DSD64 DOP), 2x S/PDIF (PCM up to 192k, up to DSD64 DOP), Toslink/ADAT 2x S/PDIF (PCM up

to 192k, up to DSD64 DOP)

• Clock generator: Low noise with 10ps of jitter

• Firmware: Upgradable via USB

• Power supply: Built in oversized 60W linear toroid with automatic voltage switching

• Built-in certied hardware Hi-Res MQA decoder

• Dimensions: WxDxH=5.5x8.8x1.74”=140x225x44mm

• Weight: 4lbs, 2kg

• Warranty: 2 years

User’s Manual 7

5. Quick Start

5.1 Front Panel

1. Headphone Output

2. Input Selection LEDs section

3. INPUT selection button

4. MQA LED

• green color indicates that MQA signal is detected

• blue color indicates that MQA signal is detected and it has either been approved in the

studio by the artist / producer or has been veried by the copyright owner.

5. Bit resolution LEDs section

• 16 BIT LED is on = 16 BIT bit rate is detected

• 20 BIT LED is on = 20 BIT bit rate is detected

• 24 BIT LED is on = 24 BIT bit rate is detected

• 16/20/24 BIT LEDs are on = 32 BIT bit rate is detected

6. Sample rate LEDs section

7. Volume knob (press to mute)

8. IR receiver

9. Volume level LEDs - show current volume level

Press and hold the input button (3) to power on/off the Liberty DAC II

8Mytek Liberty DAC II

5.2 Rear Panel

1. Power Socket

2. S/PDIF Coaxial Input 1 and S/PDIF Coaxial Input 2. These are digital inputs which accept up to

192kHz/24bit. They also accept DSD DoP standard input up to DSD64.

3. Optical Input (TOSLINK). Accepts up to 192kHz/24bit and DSD DoP standard input up to DSD64.

For best results use short high quality TOSLINK cable. Special glass ber TOSLINK cable allows

for longer cable runs and is less jittery than regular plastic ber.

4. Mytek proprietary USB 2.0 Class 2, up to 32bit/384k, DSD256.

5. AES / EBU Digital Input

6. XLR Balanced Stereo Analog Output

7. RCA Stereo Analog Output

QUICK START

Immediate Playback SPDIF and TOSLINK

Connect the analog outputs to your powered speakers, power amplier or preamplier. Alternatively

you can also use headphones. Connect the digital source (CD player) to the DAC. Power up the player,

power amplier and the Liberty DAC II. Choose the input you would like to use by pressing input button..

Immediate Playback USB

The Liberty DAC II custom designed USB2 controller supports driverless operation on all operating

systems. It means that no extra drivers are required. Driverless operation basically means „plug

and play”. The Liberty DAC II will automatically show up on your computer’s list of supported

audio devices as „Liberty DAC II”. Simply choose that as your default audio playback device and the

system will work.

Attention! To prevent damage, do not turn on your speakers on until all

connections have been made.

Do not cover ventilation holes! It’s not recommended to stack

Liberty DAC II. It may result in overheating the device!

User’s Manual 9

6. Firmware update for Windows

The current revision of the Liberty DAC II is shown in

the Liberty DAC II Uploader App.

• The rmware can be updated by using USB2 port and

Liberty DAC II Uploader app.

• It is recommended to turn off any powered speakers

/ power amps connected to Liberty DAC II before

proceeding with the rmware update

Follow the steps below to update the rmware:

1. POWER OFF DEVICE

Please press and hold [Input] button to power off

your device.

2. Run Liberty DAC II Uploader App

After installing Liberty DAC II Uploader application,

a shortcut icon should appear on your Desktop.

Double-click this shortcut to run it. From now, it will

be searching for any Liberty DAC II device connected

to your host machine. A searching process is

indicated by a spinner.

3. Power ON your device in Service Mode

To perform software update for the rst time, it is

recommended to turn-on your device in Service

Mode. To do so, press and hold [Volume] knob

button, than power-on your device by pressing and

holding [Input] button (while still holding [Volume]

knob button). After hearing a “click” from device,

release [Input] button and than release [Volume]

knob button. Your device should be discovered

by Uploader App as Liberty DAC II device running

Service Mode (which will be indicated by MQA diode

Orange color).

10 Mytek Liberty DAC II

4. Choose upgrade le

Now, click on [Add] button to select upgrade le from

you local machine. Your le will be loaded to Uploader

App and displayed by its lename

5. Start uploading process

When your le is chosen, an Upload button should

appear at the bottom of Uploader App. Press this button

to start upgrading procedure. Uploader App should

gray out, and a progress bar should indicate uploading

process completion.

6. Verify your update

After uploading completion, Liberty DAC II will perform

a Software Reset to apply changes related to rmware

update. Your device should be re-connected and re-

discovered by Uploader App as Liberty DAC II running

User Mode. Please verify if current rmware version

matches desired one.

User’s Manual 11

7. MQA - Master Qualiy Authenticated

MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording.

The master MQA le is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download.Using pioneering

scientic research into how people hear, MQA delivers master quality audio in a le that’s small enough

to stream or download – the days of sacricing quality for convenience are over.

Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.

The Liberty DAC II includes MQA technology, which enables you to play back MQA audio les and

streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording.

Authentication Types

The color of the small spot next to MQA logo indicates if the MQA stream is detected.

The spot glows green or blue to indicate that the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or le,

and denotes provenance to ensure that the sound is identical to that of the source material.

It glows blue to indicate it is playing an MQA Studio le, which has either been approved in the studio

by the artist/producer or has been veried by the copyright owner.

8. Remote

The Liberty DAC II is infrared remote ready and comes with Aluminum Apple Remote. To pair it, please

press and hold [Menu] + [Select] or [Menu] + [Next] buttons on Remote Controller for at last 5s

(device will conrm pairing procedure by blinking Volume LED’s).

12 Mytek Liberty DAC II

9. Warranty

Each individual Liberty DAC II undergoes comprehensive quality control and a complete test before

shipping. This Liberty DAC II is warranted by Mytek to the original purchaser against defects in

workmanship and materials used in manufacture for a period of two years from the date of purchase.

Faults due to customer misuse, unauthorized modications or accidents are not covered by this

warranty. No other warranty is expressed or implied.

If you suspect that your product is faulty, please contact your local retailer. Prior to shipping customer

or retailer must obtain an RMA number from Mytek for warranty services. Units sent without RMA

number will not be accepted.

Mytek extends affordable repair service for all units manufactured to date that are not covered by

this Warranty. Mytek repair centers are located at Mytek Headquarters in Brooklyn / New York, and in

Warsaw / Poland (at Mytek EU Branch Ofce).

Important Safety Information

• Read, keep and follow these instructions

• Connect all your devices before powering the unit

• Do not expose this device to moisture, rain and liquid of any kind

• Clean only with dry cloth

• If any form of liquid or a forin object enter the device switch it off and unplug it from the power

source. Do not operate device until the foreign object is removed or the liquid has completly

dried. If doubt please contact Mytek Audio

• Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions

• Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus

(including ampliers) that produce heat

• Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has

two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third

grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided

plug does not t into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet

• Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience

receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus

• Only use attachments/accessories specied by the manufacturer

• When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury

from tip-over

• Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time

• Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has

been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled

or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture,

does not operate normally, or has been dropped

User’s Manual 13

Warning

Excessive sound pressure from speakers and headphones can cause hearing loss. In order to use this

product safely, avoid prolonged listening at excessive sound pressure levels.

For the customers in the U.S.A.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,

pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection

against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This

equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in

accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

You are cautioned that any changes or modications not expressly approved in this manual could void

your authority to operate this equipment.

All interface cables used to connect peripherals must be shielded in order to comply with the limits for

a digital device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference

received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This product with the CE marking complies with the EMC Directive issued by the Commission of the

European Community. Compliance with this directive implies conformity to the following European

standards:

• EN55103-1: Electromagnetic Interference (Emission)

• EN55103-2: Electromagnetic Susceptibility (Immunity)

This product is intended for use in the following Electromagnetic Environments: E1 (residential),

E2 (commercial and light industrial), E3 (urban outdoors), E4 (controlled EMC environment, ex. TV

studio).

Information on Disposal for Users of Waste

Electrical & Electronic Equipment(private households)

The Wheelie Bin symbol on the products and/or accompanying documents

means that used electrical and electronic products should not be mixed

with general household waste. Disposing of this product correctly will help

save valuable resources and prevent any potential negative effects on

human health and the environment.

To properly dispose harmful substances and recycle the product, the

user is obliged to return it at the point of collection of electrical and

electronic equipment waste. For more information please contact your

local authorities, waste disposal units or retailer.

MyTek LIBERTY DAC II User manual

Brand: MyTek

Model: LIBERTY DAC II

Category: Supplementary music equipment

Type: User manual

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MyTek LIBERTY DAC II User manual

MyTek LIBERTY DAC II User manual

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